Drug-dealing father-of-four locked up after high-speed police chase
A drug dealer who led police on high-speed chase, narrowly missing a family crossing the road, has been jailed for four years.
Leon Robinson drove a Ford Focus at speeds of up to 79mph around Tipton on a weekday afternoon, going through red lights, mounting pavements and being on the wrong side of the road.
But his three-minute attempt to escape police came to an end when he lost control on a corner, just avoiding a person crossing the road.
Police then recovered heroin and crack cocaine with the combined street value of £1,090 which had been thrown out of the vehicle by a female passenger, who said they were his.
At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Recorder Roger Evans jailed the 30-year-old, of Hill Road in Tividale, for four years for seven offences which included dangerous driving.
Robinson had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to supplying cocaine, crack, heroin and cannabis between February 1 and September 1 last year.
He also admitted possession of heroin and crack with intent to supply on August 31 last year - the same day he was stopped following the police chase.
Mr Edward Soulsby, prosecuting, played footage from the chasing police car to the court.
He said: "This case involved a police chase involving drugs.
"After he (Robinson) was stopped, drugs were seized and his phone researched.
"It showed through the year he (Robinson) had been dealing crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis."
On September 14 last year, Robinson was again found in possession of drugs, this time with a street value of £970 along with £120 in cash.
Defending Robinson, Ms Caroline Harris, said the father-of-four had turned to offending in a bid to get out of debt, as a result of his frequent cannabis use.
She provided a letter to Recorder Roger Evans from Robinson's employer which referred to the defendant as a competent plasterer who was a valued member of the team.
Ms Harris said: "He is someone who has a lot to offer but finds himself in this situation.
"He holds his hands up, he is not seeking to make excuses, he has got himself too deep, he is a long-term drug user who has taken cannabis everyday from the age of 14.
"He has got into debt and has tried to get himself out of it."
On the police chase, Ms Harris said: "We see the sheer panic of his own situation knowing what he had on board."
Robinson was also disqualified from driving for three years.
Charges of driving without insurance and not in accordance with a licence were laid on file.
